Group Initiative

The GI is an exercise where the entire team must work together to solve a "puzzle" of sorts. It takes teamwork, thinking, focus, and commitment. It's all about working together.
Our team did The Ruins. As in each daily activity, at the end, we discuss what we learned about ourselves, each other, and God. And as always, there was definitely a lot to be learned.

The GI

Guest blogger #3

Ok, so Thursday morning. Yesterday we had a work day, I'm not gonna lie I wasn't excited, it was raining, freezing, and honestly it didn't sound fun. But as we started working God was just reminding me to be an encouraging force in my team, and as I tried to encourage others slowly I myself was encouraged. As we all worked together thanks to our good attitudes we got done quicker than groups before us, and by the time we were done it was a beautiful bright shining day. Moral of the story, be positive, and remember even when your doing something that is honestly not fun, Gods right there helping you out. (^_^)

Andrew Bingaman

Scripture memory

One of my favorite things about Wildwood is emphasis on Scripture and Scripture memory. Students are encouraged to memorize large passages of Scripture. Brent is memorizing all of 1 Corinthians 15. Look it up. It's quite long and not easy to memorize it. He's spent much of his free time memorizing the passage. As of last night, he had it all down!

And the winner is...

Yes, you guessed it. Justin, in the center. He won. Not sure what he's supposed to be, but I heard something about being a Tostada...

They feed us well here at Wildwood

They didn't win but...

They did come in third place. Can you guess who these two are dressed as?

Wierded Out Wednesday contestants

Quite a few contestants in the "just dress as weird as you can" night.

Hi Mom!

Chicken Dance

Somehow, Andrew lost track of his plunger and as a consequence, got to do the macarena for us. Yes, he GOT to do it. :--)

Ben passing on the plunger

Ben was given the plunger yesterday and handed it off to the new servant of the day at the daily "Plunger Ceremony"

The Lion King

So our speaker last night gave us a great illustration of one of our biggest problems.
He's spoken to us two nights in a row and is a dynamic and engaging speaker. Definitely memorable. Many students were talking about how great it was. I'll let your student fill you in on the details. And for those of you who were wondering, yes, there was a monkey prominently featured in the illustration. :--)

Farmer Caleb

Fun at camp

The Shema

Shema Israel. Adonai Elohenu. Adonai Echad!
See Deuteronomy 6:4

Testimony

Before each meal, we gather not only to pray, but also to hear someone share how they came to know Christ. Bader shared this morning and not only shared his story, but also clearly proclaimed the Gospel!

Patriotism

At Wildwood, there's an acknowledgment that we are very blessed to live in a country where we can openly express our faith. Each morning we raise the flag, say the pledge of allegiance, and pray for our country.

Three Sisters

We Biked up (and by "up" I mean an hour and a half of climbing - we probably climbed close to 1000 vertical feet overall) to a beautiful giant sequoia grove where the "Three Sisters" are at. Such an incredible place to see.

The Epic Bike Ride

View from the Library Tent

What an awesome place to study God's Word!

Cleaning up around camp

Library Tent

In-depth study of God's Word at the Library Tent

Work Day

Every team gets a chance to help out around camp doing a variety of things from cleanup after meals in the kitchen to building fire pits, to whatever needs to be done.

Cleaning the big fryer

This thing will fry up about 40 pounds of bacon at one time!

Ready for the ropes course

The 80s are back!

Hi Mom!

Um... Awkward

Nothing like an awkward "oh - you want to take my picture? Um... Ok..."

Free Time Zipline

There's a zip line open during free time. Notice the helmet -- safety first at Wildwood!

More solo time

Solo Time

One of my favorite things about Wildwood is the emphasis on Scripture. Many years back, when several staff members were discussing the formation of a new discipleship camp (I don't think they'd come up with the name yet), it was decided that one non-negotiable element of the new camp would be an emphasis on personal Bible study and prayer. This continues today each morning at camp when we head out with our "Bible-Book-Pen" for our Solo Time.
As a youth pastor, it's so great to see my students sitting down and studying scripture for an hour or more every day here at camp. Every year we've come here, I've had many students tell me that one of the most significant times for them at camp was when they sat down each morning to spend time un God's Word.

Kiss a llama on the llama....

Now THAT'S a Moustache!

I'm thinking Hollister Model!

Not just a couple of them...

Moustache Monday

It's Monday. Time for a Moustache. Need I say more?

Day 2

The week is off to a great start. Great breakfast! I got to make about 20 pounds of apples on a giant griddle with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It was great fun.
We're headed out to our activities for the day now.
I'll post some pictures after lunch.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Rob
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Guest Blogger #2

Tonight, one of our recently graduated seniors wrote a blog about being back at Wildwood...


Hey, this is B.K. Bader :) this is my third time at Wildwood. My first year I came in a cast and that was... A difficult yet ultimately amazing and inspiring experience; that was four years ago. Now, this is my last year as a camper, still Wildwood hits my heart in a very special place, close to home. So many factors: the amazing staff, the quiet stillness of nature around me, the purely fresh air, the echo of Evan's voice through the valley, the majestic scenery, and not to mention the feeling that God is evermore close behind me, breathing on my neck and watching my heart and soul, all have a combined effect that makes Wildwood so great. My first year was a special year because my cast gave me the privilege of hanging out with the previous camp director Rich Ferreira and my pawn at the time Evan Griffin, now the new camp director, and not to mention the beautiful lifeguard Katie and the rest of the staff, which actually, to my greatest amazement, remembered me the next year, I conquered the ropes course with a cast on my foot and hike Wildwood's epic hill countless times and rode shotgun with Evan during the late night special events.
Not just me, but the rest of my youth group had epic memories and experiences of godly encounters and unforgettable new relationships. I love Wildwood deeply and so do my brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a special and sacred place that I could never forget and coming back my third and final year (as a camper) I can't help but feel sentimental and already in love with my pawns, David and Aveinne, who are fantastic and hecka chill (Totes-my-goats), I am privileged to write this blog, both as a thank you from the bottom of my heart to Wildwood and as my last sincere farewell.
Wildwood has helped bring my heart and mind closer and closer to God every year, there is something spiritually special about Wildwood, that you must experience for yourself.

Thank you, Wildwood and staff. Thank you IBC. And thank you God.
Bader signing off.

What Is the Gospel?

Those who know me, or have been around a little while know that my favorite question to ask people is "What Is the Gospel?" Of course, if someone asks me that question, all the better! Camp is off to a great start. One of our students just asked me the question and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. What better thing for the first day of camp than to get to share the Gospel with one of our students!
I'll keep you posted as the week progresses!

Soli Deo Gloria!
Rob
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P.S. - if you want to join us in our devotion times, go to the SIX33 website and you can download PDFs of the devotion guides we're going through up here this weekl

Yes - we'll be safe up there.

The Wobbly-Woozy

The Ropes Course!

Posing 40 feet up! (some would describe it as "waiting for the terror")

Getting helmeted for ropes

Teaching our passages

Library Time

There are four activities that we do each day. Today, my team had "Library Day" which is essentially, studying a passage of Scripture. The Library Tent has concordances, Bible dictionaries, and other Bible study resources. We're given an assignment, walk through it in groups, then take turns teaching through our passages.
It's so great to see our students studying Scripture and learning how to use a variety of study resources. The end result is that they are better equipped to study God's Word on their own. I like that!

Yes! Breakfast!!!

Breakfast!

More breakfast

The food here at Wildwood is quite good!

Raising the flag

Our "dining hall"

Good morning!

Perfect Morning

One of my favorite times at camp is early mornings. I love getting up before everyone else does and reading with a cup of coffee. The still of the mornings up here in the woods is amazing. Being here at Wildwood really does remind you of the beauty of God's creation. I mean, how can you not be reminded of it when you're outside in it literally all week.

I've loved camping for a while, but being up here ih the woods with my students and spending a week really focusing on God first, and having fun together makes for a truly great week. Additionally, now that we've been up here several times and everyone knows what to expect makes for a great, smooth, quick transition into this kind of week.

Be in prayer for us as we begin our week that God truly moves in the lives of our students and adults.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Rob
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Guest Blog #1

Throughout the week, I'll be posting pictures, some thoughts, and inviting some of the others here at camp to write a little about their experience here at Wildwood. So here's...

Guest Blog #1 - Kevin Mascaro

Day 1 - For the past two years I've heard about the experience of Wildwood and observed it from a distance (at home, reading the latest postings on the blog just as you are doing now) . . . This time I'm here in person and it's as amazing as hoped for! EVERYTHING done at Wildwood is intentional with the sole purpose of knowing God - not just knowing information about Him (which in itself is still worthy of praise), but truly knowing Him as Creator, Sustainer and Savior. Delighting in Him and determining that all is to be done in light of His will and good pleasure.

The surroundings are beautiful, the camp is rustic, the staff are friendly and servant-hearted, our Country is honored as we start and end the day at the flag pole, the Shema is quoted (see Duet. 6:4-5), God is worshiped at the fire pit through song and scripture, and soon we will be asleep in the tents. Evan, the camp Director, introduced the theme for this week (knowing God) during the evening session, and introduced us to Acts 13:22 where the reason God raised up David was because he was a man after God's own heart. How did he please God so? Because he was one who "will do all my will". Is this how God would describe me? You? I want more than anything else to be described this way. I'm trusting that God will grow me closer to this goal as a result of this week. Please pray for all of us here that we will humbly seek His face at Wildwood. (P.S. When not thinking of God, my mind dwells on you, Apriella.)

A random picture from camp last year.

I'm hoping that Robbie has another CD out this year. He signed one for me last year!!!

We're here!

Hiking into camp